Olympia 300K (ACP) - 3/31

A hilly ride featuring great views of the water, a trip over the Tacoma Narrows bridge, and a stop at the famous Blue Heron bakery. While there are no big mountains, there are lots of little hills on this ride.

Pre ride announcements and cue sheet have been posted.

NOTE: There is always a risk whenever you post a cue sheet as 'final'. The cue sheet for Saturdays 3/31 300km brevet has been slightly revised. You will find minor changes at MP 57.08, and at MP at 81.46.

Additional Pre Ride Notes:

No bathrooms available at the start but there is an AM/PM about 3 miles into the ride at the corner of Center Street and Union and a new Shell station another mile up the road. (Amtrak Station does not open until 7:15AM).

There are a couple of hills to climb on pothole streets at the start but they are short in duration.

Not the most scenic way out of Tacoma but basically no traffic through the industrial area on a Saturday morning. May have to ride up to crosswalks and push the button for the signals to change as they are on timers along Center street.

Minimal debris left on trails due to winter storms.

Rainier Pizza and Expresso -excellent food made to order but plan on waiting.

Hoodsport- no warm food in later afternoon hours in Minimart- we picked up some warm deli food at larger grocery store next door.

Plenty of minimarts and services after Hoodsport.

Riding across Tacoma Narrows bridge in the dark is no longer a white knuckle event.

Have Fun!

Pre Ride Announcements

The 3/31, 300Km brevet will start at 6:00am sharp.If you have not preregistered you should plan to arrive early as preregistered riders will be given priority to assure that they start on time. (preregister and you too will get a priority boarding pass!)

Limited volunteers means limited support: This will not be your typical SIR event with lawn chairs, and coffee drinks with long names.As Mr. Natural used to say, the only karma you’ll find up on the mountain is the karma you take up there with you.Come prepared to refuel and resupply from commercial venues along the route.

The ride will start at the Tacoma Dome Metro station in the covered parking lot (Parking East in the illustration here: http://www.piercetransit.org/tds2.htm).The entrance is located at 2459 East G Street.We’ll put out an SIR control sign with a blinky light. I will have my cell phone with me, (360) 259-2105, though if you are lost I probably won’t be much help to you.

Note that there are restrooms at the station however I am fairly certain that they are not unlocked until 7:00am, so best to take care of business before you arrive, not a lot of commercial venues nearby (or farmers fields or trees for that matter), think urban industrial.

While everyone else was riding north last weekend, the pre-riders had a lovely ride south.The course is in good condition despite the ravages of winter.The start is circuitous as there is a serious urban removal project taking place just to the south.So you’ll have a little gratuitous climbing (it’s SIR, right?) and some block by block navigation but it’s smooth sailing after the first mile.

At about the 20 mile mark you will enter I-5 for nearly a mile, pay close attention here as motorists will not be expecting cyclists.Nisqually road and WA-510 have considerable debris on the road and little to no shoulder, another place to keep your eyes open.

At MP 35.4 you depart from the road and enter the Chehalis Western Trail.This is tricky as you will make a 270 degree turn and ride UP onto the trail overpass which you just rode under.WATCH FOR THE OVERPASS! Or you’ll be back in Tumwater before you know it.The MUP has been cleaned of debris but posts at road intersections are waiting for one false move to take you down.

At Centralia you turn north for the run home, Hoodsport is an open control now.The route from SR 3 to Purdy (MP152-170) is scenic but shoulders are limited and traffic is fast, be sure you have great lights and reflective gear.

In Gig Harbor you will route onto the Cushman Trail and then the pedestrian path across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.Once across the Narrows you will follow the Scott Pierson Trail most of the way through Tacoma, then by surface streets back to the start/finish.

Ride Summary:

This ride starts at Tacoma Station inside the covered parking garage. We’ll ride south through Tacoma, Steilacoom, Dupont, and Lacey to the first control in Rainier. Then continue south through Tenino for your next control in Centralia.

Now the steady march north, with controls at the Blue Heron Bakery in Olympia, and Hoodsport, before you swing back south to loop around the great bend of Hood Canal. Then by back roads to cross the Tacoma Narrows bridge. Finish with a roll through Tacoma streets and the finish, again at the Tacoma Station Parking Garage.

It’s still March (though you may finish in April!) so be prepared for any and all weather conditions. No big mountains but a cumulative total elevation gain of Just under 7,000’ so do remember to bring your knees for this one.